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Work Life News | Deseret Newsen-usCopyright 2016, Deseret News Publishing CompanyFri, 09 Dec 2016 00:00:01 MSTFri, 09 Dec 2016 11:40:05 MSTNewspapershttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssTwo Utah companies receive national praisehttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668938/Two-Utah-companies-receive-national-praise.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668938/Two-Utah-companies-receive-national-praise.html?pg=all
Two Utah companies have been rated among the top 50 best small and midsize companies to work for in the nation.
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Two Utah companies have been rated among the top 50 best small and midsize companies to work for in the nation.

Those two companies, BambooHR and Utah Community Credit Union, ranked 19th and 44th, respectively, according to Glassdoor.

BambooHR CEO Ben Peterson has a 97 percent approval rating, and about 92 percent of people have recommended the company to their friends, according to Glassdoor.

Reviews of BambooHR credit the company’s call for work-life balance as one of the reasons it’s been successful. This isn’t surprising.

As I wrote in September, BambooHR pays its employees $2,000 to take vacation time. The company reimburses its employees up to that amount to incentivize taking vacation time.

“We’ve always tried to be very thoughtful about the benefits we try to add incrementally as the company grew,” said Peterson, who started the company in 2008, according to KUTV. “We feel very strongly that personal life doesn’t exist to support work life, but vice versa.”

Meanwhile, the company received negative reviews for its “growing pains.”

As for Utah Community Credit Union, the company offers a “wonderful environment,” according to one reviewer on Glassdoor. The company’s CEO, Jeff Sermon, boasts a 100 percent approval rating, and 99 percent of employees have recommended the company to a friend.

These two companies aren’t the only highly praised Utah businesses. As I wrote about earlier this month, Glassdoor’s big-company rankings identified eight businesses with offices or headquarters in Utah as the best places to work.

That list included companies owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as Delta Airlines and Adobe.

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Fri, 09 Dec 2016 11:09:00 MSTThis is how long it takes Utahns to commute to workhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668883/This-is-how-long-it-takes-Utahns-to-commute-to-work.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668883/This-is-how-long-it-takes-Utahns-to-commute-to-work.html?pg=all
The U.S. Census Bureau released data Thursday that showed how long it takes most Utahns to commute to their jobs.
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The U.S. Census Bureau released data Thursday that showed two different sides of the Beehive State, according to our Daphne Chen.

The American Community Survey, which looked through data from 2011 to 2015, showed that Utah’s counties often have stark contrasts to each other. Few of these counties are the same.

"Each one of these counties has a different experience and different characteristics," Pam Perlich, the director of demographic research at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Institute, told Chen. "The state average really hides all of these unique stories as to how this is playing out."

Chen’s story delves deeper into this idea of two different sides of Utah

But the data showed a lot more about the state than how starkly different counties are.

For example, the data outlined how long people take to get to work.

According to the data, it takes Utahns 21.3 minutes on average to get to work.

And 17.7 percent of Utahns need between 15 and 19 minutes to get to their job.

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Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:54:00 MSTThis Provo startup is about to change the internet, experts sayhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668876/This-Provo-startup-is-about-to-change-the-internet-experts-say.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668876/This-Provo-startup-is-about-to-change-the-internet-experts-say.html?pg=all
That startup is Daplie, a Provo-based company that has created a device that will give families their own cloud.
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Soon, your home may have a cloud of its own, thanks to a Utah startup.

That startup is Daplie, a Provo-based company that has created a device that will give families their own digital storage cloud.

Daplie is basically a physical device that “allows you to protect, share, and stream your entire digital library from anywhere in the world and we've designed it to be simple enough for Grandma to set up and use,” according to the company’s website.

The device is now available for preorder. You can own the device with a $135 donation to the device's Indiegogo page. So far, Daplie has raised $264,555 from 922 backers. Its initial goal was $32,500.

Watch the video below for more on the Daplie device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usQrNweha2A

Daplie hopes to “take back the internet” with its device, which allows users to move their photos from their iCloud, Dropbox and Google accounts into their own home server instead.

“In a world gone wild with connected devices, we are striving to put the ‘I’ back in internet,” co-founder AJ ONeal said in a press release. “We enable normal everyday people to have the convenience of their very own Cloud Server to manage their digital lives, completely in the safety and privacy of their own home. Which also means no storage limits, no monthly fees, and greater security and autonomy.”

The Provo-based company seems to be on the verge of success, too. According to the Nasdaq, Daplie’s rise comes as the market for better cloud devices is about to boom.

Nasdaq estimates the cloud industry will be worth $80 billion by the year 2020.

“It's a $5 million company now, but it could be worth many times that in a few years as it addresses the $80 billion cloud market,” according to Nasdaq.

Daplie Vice President Brian Bourgerie told the Desere News that you can invest in a class A stock right now. The company also runs reward and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

"We are the first Utah company to use the new regulation equity crowdfunding law passed in May that allows anybody to invest as little as $100 in startups and small businesses," he said.

You can also invest in the company on its Indiegogo page.

Time will tell if the company’s mission will sit well with buyers and consumers.

“We believe all your digital content should be in one place, in the privacy of your home, not scattered ‘somewhere out on the internet,” the company’s Indiegogo page reads.

Wefunder.com/daplie

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Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:05:00 MSTCheck out 8 of the best places to work in Utahhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668858/Check-out-8-of-the-best-places-to-work-in-Utah.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668858/Check-out-8-of-the-best-places-to-work-in-Utah.html?pg=all
Glassdoor recently revealed its list of best companies to work for. The list is based on customer reviews posted on...
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Some of the best places to work across the country include several tech companies, some of which have locations and offices in the Salt Lake Valley.

Glassdoor, an information resource for employees, employers and job hunters, recently revealed its list of best companies to work for. The list is based on customer reviews posted on Glassdoor, specifically from Nov. 2, 2015, to Oct. 30, 2016, according to Mashable.

Glassdoor's Allison Berry told Mashable that tech companies "really pioneered this whole idea of providing really fantastic benefits and offering very competitive compensation. It’s been interesting to see other companies that are outside of the space following through.”

Though Facebook ranked in the No. 2 spot, it was far from the only tech company to make the list. Google, LinkedIn and Adobe, which has an office in Lehi, all made the list. Apple, Microsoft and Texas Instruments were also ranked.

As we mentioned earlier, some of these fun workplaces are located — or have offices — in the state of Utah. Here’s a look at eight of those companies that made the list that have a stake in the Beehive State.

The tech company ranked No. 9 on the list. It has an office in Lehi. The company has been championed for its work-life balance and benefits. Its CEO, Shantanu Narayn, has a 96 percent approval rating, according to Glassdoor.

19. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The LDS Church saw a jump in the rankings this year, going from No. 22 in 2016 to No. 19 this year. Reviewers on Glassdoor said businesses owned by the LDS Church serve as a great launching pad into the job market.

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Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:10:00 MSTSilicon Slopes and Beehive Startups want to make sure you know about Utah's buzzing tech culturehttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668813/Silicon-Slopes-and-Beehive-Startups-want-to-make-sure-you-know-about-Utahs-buzzing-tech-culture.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668813/Silicon-Slopes-and-Beehive-Startups-want-to-make-sure-you-know-about-Utahs-buzzing-tech-culture.html?pg=all
Silicon Slopes and Beehive Startups have aligned to a create a new nonprofit organization that will cover Utah&#8217;s...
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Silicon Slopes and Beehive Startups, two organizations that cover Utah’s tech and business scene, have joined forces to a create a new nonprofit organization that will cover Utah’s buzzing business culture.

Silicon Slopes, a company that has organized Utah’s startups under one banner, and Beehive Startups, a tech and business blog with a podcast that often features business leaders from the state, hope to foster even more growth for the tech industry.

DOMO founder and CEO Josh James, who heads the Silicon Slopes organization, said he and Clint Betts, founder of Beehive Startups and now executive director of the new nonprofit group, started talking a year ago about combining efforts.

“You’ve got the community together and behind something," James told the Deseret News. "And we’ve been developing a lot of momentum.”

Within the nonprofit group, Silicon Slopes will exclusively cover the tech community, while Beehive Startups will focus on the entrepreneurial and early business prospects of the state.

James said the nonprofit will focus on growth initiatives like startup challenges to help “bring in great people." An advisory board and small committees associated with the nonprofit will be announced in the coming days.

Also announced was the Silicon Slopes Summit, which will be a two-day tech event at the Salt Palace on Jan. 19 and 20.

The event runs alongside the Sundance Film Festival, but is expected to draw “high-profile” keynote speakers.

James said the company strategically chose to launch the summit during Sundance to draw people from around the world.

“It’s like one of the best world-class things we have in our state,” he said. “What’s Utah world class at? That’s kind of where we started. The Sundance Film Festival is definitely world class. Our tech community — we have world-class companies. Our community is not world class yet, but it’s getting there. How great would it be to be able to invite executives to come and speak to a couple hundred thousand people and then say, ‘hey, let’s go see a movie premiere afterwards.' That really resonated with the speakers that we’re lining up.”

James said they will be announcing speakers one at a time over the next month.

Domo founder and CEO Josh James speaks to the attendees of Domopalooza, held at the Grand America hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 22, 2016.

Scott Stevens, Deseret News

Similarly, James said the summit will be a “world-class party” with some of the country’s leading tech entrepreneurs coming to the state to share their knowledge on tech, engineering and data.

This isn’t the first time in recent weeks that Beehive Startups worked to expand its reach. It began producing a podcast called the "Deseret News Silicon Slopes Hour," which can be found on DeseretNews.com and also heard on KSL Radio.

“These are stories about entrepreneurs," he said. "It’s not stories about cloud computing or how to build a SAAS company. I think it’s a pretty broad topic. We’re talking about what it takes to build a company, what does it take to be an entrepreneur, that type of stuff."

Indeed, Utah's growth in the business field has been noted. The CBRE Group's recent report moved Utah from an "emerging market" to a "growth leader" since the state has an "above-average high-tech software/services job growth" and "above-average office market performance."

“Tech has been a driving force in Salt Lake’s economy for some time now, as evidenced in the market’s transition from an emerging market to a growth leader,” Eric Smith, a senior vice president in CBRE’s Salt Lake office, said in a press release.

Salt Lake City ranked 18th in the nation in terms of job growth (ahead of Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston) and 13th in office market performance (just ahead of Denver, New York and Phoenix).

James said he hopes this will continue moving forward.

“You know, tech, more than anything else, drives the average income per person in the state. Drives it more than anything,” he said. “We’re excited to be able to continue to grow that tech community here.”

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Wed, 07 Dec 2016 18:33:00 MSTWhy startups need a strong feedback culturehttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668781/Why-startups-need-a-strong-feedback-culture.html?pg=all
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Feedback may be mildly important to helping a startup grow, says David Klein, a contributor for Forbes who works at...
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Startups itching to grow may do well to implement a strong feedback culture.

David Klein, a contributor for Forbes who works at CommonBound, a student refinancing company, wrote this week that creating a culture of feedback can help companies reach their full potential, since they'll recognize mistakes that they can fix.

This can be a challenge for young companies, especially ones where executives haven’t figured out the best method for offering advice, tips or criticism for each other.

“But I can say that it is absolutely worthwhile for startups to invest the time and effort in implementing an intentional feedback system for themselves and their employees. If you don't, you'll end up spending just as much time (if not more) correcting for the fact you don't,” Klein wrote.

Klein offered tips on how to create this culture, such as incorporating real-time feedback.

“This means that when anyone notices an opportunity for improvement or wants to praise a colleague or manager for a job well done, they are empowered to do so,” according to Klein.

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Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:10:00 MSTThese 2 Utah solar companies just mergedhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668774/These-2-Utah-solar-companies-just-merged.html?pg=all
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Two Utah solar companies announced a merger on Tuesday, further expanding solar energy across the Beehive State.
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Vision Solar and Zing Solar, two rising solar companies based in Utah, announced Tuesday they would merge under the name ION Solar.

Matt Rasmussen, CEO of Vision Solar, said this merger will help make solar energy cost-effective.

"There's an excitement and enthusiasm here that's not only contagious, it's very fulfilling," Rasmussen said in a news release. "We're doing great things and the coming together of two incredible solar companies, hundreds of passionate team members, and thousands of solar customers strengthens our ability to positively impact the environment with clean solar energy."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5dxNufo628

The merger will be finished by the end of the year. The companies have planned for growth initiatives to take place in 2017.

Both companies have a similar vision, which made the decision to merge easier, said Jimmy Slemboski, president of Zing Solar.

"The triple-digit growth we've experienced since inception at Zing has been continued validation that homeowners want the highest-quality equipment on their home when they choose solar and they value a sincere, personal approach to their customer service experience,” Slemboski said in a news release. “Vision has always mirrored that attention to detail, quality, transparency and loyalty to customers. The compounding effects of unifying our amazing people as ION Solar is something we're all very excited about.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxzYCmFz1ts

With the merger, ION Solar now reaches Colorado, Texas, South Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico and California, as well as Utah, where it will be based.

The company will served a combined 9,500 customers, according to Travis Thorton, marketing director for Vision Solar, which has 6,500 customers to Zing's 3,000.

The companies have installed 50 million units combined, with a projected 30 million more annually for the future.

Solar energy's impact on Utah has been a topic of discussion in recent months. Rocky Mountain Power recently made headlines for calling for residents with solar panels to pay an extra monthly $15 fee, as well as a one-time $60 payment for administrative costs. The company says the current rate structure is not sustainable.

Vivint Solar's CEO David Bywater responded to this proposal on the Beehive Startups podcast, saying that the move decreases the incentive for Utahns to buy into the solar energy market.

“We think it’s the most anti-solar position that any utility has brought forth in any state at this point,” Bywater said. “And it’s shocking.”

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Wed, 07 Dec 2016 09:35:00 MSTOlympic hero Michael Phelps looks to dip his toes in techhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/765691125/Olympic-hero-Michael-Phelps-looks-to-dip-his-toes-in-tech.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765691125/Olympic-hero-Michael-Phelps-looks-to-dip-his-toes-in-tech.html?pg=all
Michael Phelps wants to dive into Silicon Valley's investment opportunities as he tries to make the transition from Olympic...
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Michael Phelps wants to dive into Silicon Valley's investment opportunities as he tries to make the transition from Olympic swimming star and product pitchman to entrepreneur.

"I would love to get involved, whether it's in a couple little startups here and there, take a little risk, have some fun and see where it goes," Phelps said in an interview during a recent visit to San Jose, California while appearing at an Intuit software conference.

For now, Phelps isn't providing any details about what he is going to do, though he says he has been getting advice from venture capitalists and other experienced investors in Silicon Valley startups.

Getting into tech investing would be a new direction for Phelps, whose business experience to date consists mostly of his own line of swimwear and endorsement deals with the likes of Under Armour, Visa and Wheaties.

These and other big brands have paid him an estimated $75 million during his career. That's far more than the $1.65 million that he received from the U.S. Olympic Committee and Speedo for winning a record 28 medals, including 23 golds, in five Olympics. He's still promoting products; he is currently doing commercials for computer chipmaker Intel in a campaign that began in October.

Whatever he does next, Phelps isn't ready to start his own investment fund, like retired Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant did earlier this year with entrepreneur Jeff Stibel. And if Phelps has ideas for founding a startup of his own, he's keeping them to himself.

Making the leap from pitchman to businessman won't be easy, said David Carter, executive director of the University of Southern California's Marshall Sports Business Institute. "Athletes come and go and many talk a big game, but they don't follow through," he said. Phelps "is really going to have commit to learning about business and demonstrate his seriousness about it."

Other celebrities have ventured into the tech industry in search of riches, with decidedly mixed results.

Notable successes include rapper and record producer Dr. Dre, who was part of the founding team that sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion 2014. Actor Ashton Kutcher co-founded an investment fund in 2010 that made early investments in startups such as the ride-hailing service Uber, the home rental-service Airbnb and the music streaming service Spotify. The fund's value had soared to $250 million from $30 million, based on a review of its books earlier this year by Forbes magazine .

Among the flops: HJR Capital, a tech-investment firm that collapsed in 2009, a decade after former San Francisco 49er lineman Harris Barton founded it and later enticed ex-teammates Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott to join him. In Rhode Island, former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling started a video game company that went bankrupt in 2012.

Phelps is exploring ways to expand his business ventures beyond a line of swimwear and other clothing bearing his "MP" logo. Other products are in the pipeline for next year, though he won't say what.

"I am getting my feet wet," Phelps said with a grin. "2017 will be a big year."

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Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:35:00 MSTOlympic hero Michael Phelps looks to dip his toes in techhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/765691126/Olympic-hero-Michael-Phelps-looks-to-dip-his-toes-in-tech.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765691126/Olympic-hero-Michael-Phelps-looks-to-dip-his-toes-in-tech.html?pg=all
Olympic medalist Michael Phelps has a second act in mind, one that might lead him to Silicon Valley. Although the athlete...
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Olympic medalist Michael Phelps has a second act in mind, one that might lead him to Silicon Valley. Although the athlete isn't offering much in the way of specifics.

"I would love to get involved, whether it's in a couple little startups here and there, take a little risk, have some fun and see where it goes," Phelps said in an interview during a visit to San Jose, California.

Tech entrepreneurship would mark a big change for Phelps, whose business experience to date consists mostly of endorsement deals with Under Armour, Visa and Wheaties. These and other big brands have paid him an estimated $75 million during his career. In an advertising campaign that began last month, he became pitchman for the computer chipmaker Intel.

What else might the swimmer, who won 28 medals in five Olympics, do in the tech industry? Phelps wouldn't say, beyond noting that he isn't ready to start his own investment fund, like retired Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant did earlier this summer with entrepreneur Jeff Stibel. If Phelps has ideas for founding a startup of his own, he's keeping them to himself.

Making the leap from pitchman to businessman is not easy, said David Carter, executive director of the University of Southern California's Marshall Sports Business Institute. "Athletes come and go and many talk a big game, but they don't follow through," he said. Phelps "is really going to have commit to learning about business and demonstrate his seriousness about it."

Celebrities have had mixed results in the tech startup arena, like anyone else.

Rapper and producer Dr. Dre was part of the founding team that sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion in 2014. The value of an investment fund co-founded by Ashton Kutcher has soared from $30 million, to $250 million since its 2010 inception.

Then there's HJR Capital, started by former San Francisco 49er lineman Harris Barton. After enticing ex-teammates Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott to join him, the investment firm collapsed in 2009.

In September, former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling settled a long running legal dispute with the state of Rhode Island. A $75 million deal brought Schilling's 38 Studios to the state from Massachusetts. It failed spectacularly within two years.

Phelps is exploring other options. He's already launched a line of swimwear and other clothing bearing his "MP" logo. Other products are in the pipeline for next year, though he won't say what.

"I am getting my feet wet," Phelps said with a grin. "2017 will be a big year."

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Thu, 01 Dec 2016 06:57:00 MSTUtah's manufacturing sector among nation's strongesthttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668338/Utahs-manufacturing-sector-among-nations-strongest.html?pg=all
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A recent agreement involving the nation's soon-to-be president and vice president has highlighted a sector of the national...
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SALT LAKE CITY — A recent agreement involving the nation's soon-to-be president and vice president has highlighted a sector of the national economy that has suffered for years: manufacturing.

In Utah, however, the manufacturing industry is one of the key growth sectors in the state's long-range economic plan.

This week, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence announced an agreement with furnace and air conditioner maker Carrier and its parent company, United Technologies, to keep about 1,000 jobs at Carrier's Indianapolis-area facilities from moving to Mexico.

The company had planned to move more than 2,000 positions south of the border, but those plans changed following a dialogue between Trump and Carrier management.

To keep the jobs in Indiana, the state agreed to offer economic incentives.

Supporters hail the agreement as a victory for working families who have lost scores of manufacturing jobs over the years as companies cut expenses by moving to countries with cheaper labor costs. But critics call the deal a short-term triumph for a few workers who will benefit at the expense of the free market.

While the industry has experienced challenges in the Rust Belt, locally the story of manufacturing is much more upbeat.

According to the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, the state’s manufacturing and distribution industry has experienced employment growth above 11 percent over the past five years.

Within the industry, medical equipment and supplies manufacturing increased by 27 percent, with motor vehicle and parts manufacturing increasing by 30 percent over the five-year period.

Employment within the industry is among the higher-paying sectors in the Utah economy, state officials said. The average monthly manufacturing salary in Utah in 2015 was $4,533, while the statewide average monthly wages across all industries was $3,621, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

The industry is doing so well, in fact, that companies are having a difficult time filling positions with qualified workers, said Todd Bingham, president of the Utah Manufacturers Association — the state's largest trade organization representing the industry throughout Utah.

Utah currently has approximately 3,500 manufacturing businesses statewide that employ about 100,000 people, Bingham said.

"Really, the only thing that's holding our companies back is the inability to find skilled workers," he said. "That is different than some areas of the country."

Bingham said local companies want to expand their operations but have difficulty attracting younger workers who typically don’t consider manufacturing as a long-term career path.

“One, they don’t know anything about it, so they are saying, ‘Why would I go work in manufacturing when I don’t know anything about it?’” he explained.

With so much of Utah’s manufacturing involved in composites, aerospace, medical devices and other high-tech fields, the industry needs smart individuals who can communicate well, think critically and solve problems, he said.

Bingham also noted that many sectors are looking for candidates with two-year certificates and skill sets that allow them to begin working at a high level right away.

“Today’s generation is going to have to adapt a little bit with what is the skill set (required) depending upon their interests,” he said. “This is not your grandfather’s manufacturing industry. It’s evolving, automated, high-tech and clean. It’s not dark, dirty and dead end.”

In Utah, manufacturing is among the key components of the state’s overall economic pie, explained Val Hale, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

“We have such a diverse economy, and underpinning all of that is manufacturing,” Hale said. “It really is such a critical part of our economy.”

Among the issues faced by manufacturers in the Beehive State and across the country is global trade. As noted in the Carrier example, many companies are choosing to shift manufacturing operations abroad to save money.

Some critics blame international trade agreements for the exodus, including deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The partnership is a trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim nations, excluding China. The final proposal was signed in February in Auckland, New Zealand, and is awaiting ratification.

The aim of the 30-chapter agreement is to "promote economic growth; support the creation and retention of jobs; enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty in the signatories' countries; and promote transparency, good governance, and enhanced labor and environmental protections."

Critics argue the agreement would adversely affect working families in the U.S. to the benefit of large corporations, while supporters claim the deal would help stabilize commerce between the United States and its Pacific trade partners.

Hale said such agreements are of great benefit to states such as Utah that have a trade surplus — meaning more product exports than imports. So local businesses would be concerned to see those deals eliminated, he said.

“If (the nation) does something that is going impact (Utah’s) ability to export, it could have a fairly dramatic effect on our economy,” Hale said. “Utah, more than other states, could be negatively impacted by some the trade restrictions that are being talked about (nationally).”